Lawn-mower



(No Model.)

W. A. LOUD.

LAWN MOWER.

No. 483,157. Patented Sept. 27, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALDO A. LOUD, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

LAWN-MOWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,157, datedSeptember 27, 1892.

Application filed November 28, 1890- Serial No. 372,899. (No modeli) ToaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALDO A. LOUD, of Springfield, Hampden county,Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lawn-Mowers,of which the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings and letters of reference marked thereon, in whichdrawings, like letters of reference indicating like parts- Figure 1 is aView of the outer face side of one of the traction-wheels, having one ofthe end plates of the frame in position. Fig. 2 is a view of the endplate as it would be seen in Fig. 1 were the tractionwheel removed. Fig.3 is a sectional view taken on linemc of Fig. 1, showing the parts atthe left of said line. Fig. 4 is a View of the traction-wheel as seenfrom its inner face side. Fig. 5 is a perspective view, on a reducedscale, of a lawn-mower containing my improvements and having a portionof one of the traction-wheels and a portion of one of the end platesbroken away. Fig. 6 is a view of a portion of one of the end plates inposition on the traction-wheel as seen from the opposite end of themachine, showing my improved journal box or bearing, and showing, also,my device for locking the fixed blade-adj usting screws in position.Fig. 7 is an end view of the journal-bearing, on an enlarged scale; andFig. 8 is an edge view, on an enlarged scale, of the screw-lockingdevice.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a indicates the central or bodyportion of the traction-wheel; b, the outer or tread rim mountedthereon; c, the spokes or pieces interposed between the body aandtread-rimb. (1 indicates the annular rim or wall of the body;e,gear-teeth internally mounted on the rim d; f, one of the end platesof the machineframe; g, an annular flange thereon; h, a projecting armto which part of the operative mechanism is attached; '5, a frame-rodextending from plate to plate; j, a shaft on which the revolving cuttersare mounted; 70, bladesupportingarms; Z, revolving cutter-blade; l,fixed knife; m, handle-arms; n, handle; 0, journal-box; p, cap oradjustable tongue in journal-box; 'r, adjusting-screws in journalbox; 3,fixed blade-holder; t,adjusting-sorews for fixed blade; a, lock for adjUStlllg-SCIGWS t; '0, holding-screw for lock, and w rib in which theadjusting-screws t are mounted.

The obj ectof my invention is to provide an arrangement by which thegearing within the shell or body of the traction-wheel shall be coveredand pro ected from dirt, and thus prevent clogging.

My object is, further to protect such gearing without increasing thenumber of parts or rendering the machine more complicated.

My object is, further, to provide a simple, inexpensive bearing for therotating cuttershaft wherein the war can be taken up in a simple andconvenient manner, and also to provide a means of effectually lockingthe fixed blade-adjusting sc ews in the desired position.

I accomplish these objects in the manner herein set out; and myinvention consists in the construction and arrangement herein shown,whereby the objects of my invention are attained.

In the construction of my device I cast the body portion a, traction-rimZ), and spokes c in one piece, the edges of the spokes being far enoughaway from the inner face of the wheel to allow the flange g on the platef to fit over the edge of the rim cl, which forms part of the bodyportion of the wheel. \Vithin the cup-shaped portion of the body arecast the internal gear-teeth e, these being preferably made integralwith the body of the wheel. The end plates f of the frame consists of acircular plate, as shown in Fig. 2, preferably having a projecting partIt cast and made integral therewith. The end plate f is of a size tocover the opening in the inner face side of the body of thetractionwheel, and I prefer to cast an annular flange g thereon toproject over the outer edge of the rim (Z, and I prefer, also, that anannular recess be made in the plate just within the annular flange g toreceive the edge of the rim d. These plates are provided with the usualopenings for axial support and cutter-shaft and are provided withrecesses to receive the gear which meshes with the teeth 6. The wheeland plate may be fastened together at the center of revolution in anyconvenient manner. The plates forming the ends of the flange f, whichprojects from the plate to ward the center of the machine, and I formthis flange upon its opposite side with an annular recess, within whichrecess the wall of the body portion of the wheel fits. This enables meto set the body of the plate into the body of the wheel and enables meto employ a longer frame, and consequently a longer blade, while thecomplete machine remains of the same length asheretofore, and theannular recess having its walls setting over the wall of the body of thewheel effectually excludes dust and dirt from the internal mechanism,and this form of plate, also having the annular flange recessed, asstated, serves to strengthen the plate, thus enabling me to make it ofless thickness and less weight.

I am aware that a lawn-mower has heretofore been made having'anindependently-operating internally-toothed arrangement covered by aplate. WVith such arrangement, however, the requisite rigidity cannot behad as conveniently, and the device is rendered more complicated.

As the revolving cutter-shaft is subjected at its bearings toconsiderable wear, it is desirable to provide some means to readilycompensate for the same, and for that purpose I prefer to cast the shell0 for the bearing with the plate f, a recess for one-half the shaftbeing formed on one side and a cup or tonguep being provided with a likeopening to receive and bear upon the opposite side of the shaft, aslight opening being of course left between the two parts of the bearingto allow for the necessary take-up. The tongue 19 is fulcrumed at oneend in the shell and its opposite end is moved, as required, for thenecessary adjustment.

I prefer to provide the shell 19 with aV-shaped slot orre cess and toshape the inner end of the tongue to enter the same. The angle of theentering end of the tongue should be more acute than the opening to letthe bearing come at the vertex of the angle and give sufficient room forthe requisite movement of the tongue. The tongue being loosely arrangedwithin its shell 0, does not require the nice construction andadjustment as would be required were the same mounted upon a fixed pivotor fulcrumed point, so that by the loose arrangement I am enabled toconstruct this portion of the device at less expense, and the timerequired for adjustment and assembling is very much lessened, as thelooselymounted cap will readily adjust itself to its bearing, afterwhich the locking-screws are tightened.

To adjust the tongue,l provide two adjusting-screws r, which passthrough the shell, as shown at Fig. 7, and bear against the free end ofthe tongue. The set-screws, having conical ends, will operate to movethe free end of the tongue up or down, dependent upon the posi tion ofthe adjusting-screws. The point of contact of the screw ends with thecap is preferably inclined to give greater area of contact of the screwend and the tongue.

The fixed or stationary blade is mounted thus holding the same firmly inposition.

upon a frame 5, which frame in turn is pivotally mounted upon theprojection h of the plate f. On the part 71. and above the knifeholdingframe is a rib w, through which adj Listing-screws t pass and which bearagainst the frame 8 at each side of the pivotal poinlt is found,however, in practice that the constant jar resulting from the use of themachine will cause these screws to slacken a trifle, and thus therequisiterigidity will not be maintained. To overcome this objectionablefeature, I provide a screw-lock a, which is preferably shaped as shownin Fig. 8, the same consisting, essentially, of a block of metal whichwill fit loosely between the adj usting-screws and the face of the parth. A set-screw 'v is provided,which passes through the block and bearsagainst the part 71, thus forcing the block against the sides of theadjusting-screws t and securely locking them and preventing all dangerof their loosening or moving. To facilitate the placing of this block inposition, I form one end with a bend or projection 11/, which readilybears against one of the adjusting-screws and brings both bearing-pointsin the desired position. 7

Having therefore described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a lawnunower, traction=wheels com posed of central circular platesformed with inwardly-directed annular rim-fianges having internalgear-teeth, spokes projected radially from the periphery of saidflanges, and a tread-rim integral with the spokes, in combination with aframe provided with circular end plates having annular rim-flanges andoppositely-turned edge flange, forming an annular groove between theflanges to engage and sit over the edges of the annular rim of thecircular plates of the wheels, whereby the disk or body of the endplates sit within the openings of the wheels, as and for the purposespecified.

2. The combination, in a lawn-mower, of two traction-wheels having thetread-surface arranged about and made integral with the spokes c and,having the central portion of the wheel closed and formed with a rimhaving integral gear-teeth, and a frame the ends of which consist ofplates f, having outwardlyextended annular flanges f ,with an inwardlyextended rim-flange, and a groove between the flanges in the interiorto'sit over the rimwall of the body portion of the Wheel, whereby thedistance between the inner faces of the wheels is increased, as and forthe purpose specified.

3. The combination of an outer shell or box o, a cup 19, arrangedtherein and fulcrumed at one end and having oppositely-inclined faces atits opposite end, and set-screws having taper ends to bear one againsteach of said inclined faces, and thus move the free end of the cap,substantially as shown.

4. The box-body 0, having a V-shaped recess at one end and having adjusting-screws r at its opposite end, in combination with a cap 10,arranged in said box, one end being V-shaped to rest within said recessand the opposite end having oppositely-inclined faces at the point ofthe engagement of the setscrews therewith, substantially as shown.

5. The combination, with one or more adjusting-screwslocatedadjacenttoandwiththe axis of said adjusting-screws approximatelyparallel with a plane surface, of a lock 11, consisting of a bar locatedbetween said surface and said adj ustingscrews and bearing against theside of the latter, and one or more setscrews passing through said barand bearing tially as shown.

WALDO A. LOUD. Witnesses:

ALLEN WEBSTER, GEORGE F. LIVINGSTONE.

